Rail-joint.



G. E. GOODRIGH.

Patented Jan. 20,1914.

mhimaoom I UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CHARLES E. GOODRICH, OF BIRDSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. GooDRIoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birdsboro, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to rail joints, the object of the invention being to provide a rail chair of a simple, comparatively cheap and thoroughly efiicient construction which will readily permit of the rail ends being inserted longitudinally of the chair, and the rail engaging members of the chair adapted to exert a spring tension against the said rail ends to bind against the webs and heads of the rails and to prevent the accidental disassociation of the rails, suitable securing means being provided for securing the chair upon a tie and the rails connected with the chair.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rail chair having integrally formed rail engaging plates which have their inner faces inclined outwardly in opposite directions from their center, so as to provide the chair with flared entrance passages for the rails, as well as wherein the central portions of the said members serve as stops for the inner longitudinal movement of the rail ends with relation to the chair.

lVith the above recited objects in view, and others which will appear as the nature of the invention is more fully understood, the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of two rail ends connected by my improvement, Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of the chair, and Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, RR designate the rail ends and 1 the chair for supporting and connecting the said rail ends. The chair embodies a flat base 2 which is integrally formed at a distance from its longitudinal edges with vertically extending portions 3 and which have their inner faces vertically straight and arranged in a similar longitudinal plane. Formed integrally with the vertical members 3 are angular flanges 4: which overlie the base 2, and connected with the edges of these flanges 4: are vertically disposed plates 5 and 6 respec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 16, 1913.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914. Serial No. 768,113.

tivelv. The plates comprise each an angular member which has its central portion 7 disposed inwardly toward the center of the chair, and from thence beveled outwardly in opposite directions to the edges of the chair, as clearly illustrated in the figures of the drawing. Integrally formed upon the up per edge of the plate 5 is a ledge 8 which is slightly inclined to correspond with the underface of the ball of the rail which it is adapted to receive. The ledge has its outer edge formed with a longitudinally extending crest 9 which has its inner face inclined in opposite directions from its center. The central portion of the top of the crest is adapted to lie in a plane flush with the tops of the rails. Connecting the crest and ledge with the plates 5, overhanging flange and the portion of the base flange beyond its vertical projection 3, are integrally formed braces 10, and the base 1 between the said strut braces is provided with spike openings 11 and 12. The opposite side of the chair is also provided with bolt openings 13 and 1 1, which are arranged adjacent the outer longitudinal edge of the vertical projection 3, and the said outer longitudinal edge of the said projection is preferably removed, as at 15 and 16, to provide walls which partially surround the openings 13 and 14, this being also true of the end of the plate provided with the openings 11 and 12, and the walls serve as pockets for the heads of the ret aining spikes. The plates 5 and 6, at a distance from their central portions 7 have registering openings 15, the said openings being adapted for the reception of the usual bolts 17 that are provided with the securing nuts 18.

From the above description taken in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings itwill be understood that the plates 5 and 6, as well as the crest 9 are adapted to contact with the webs and heads of the rails when the rail ends are inserted longitudinally from opposite directions within the chair 1, and that the open or flared ends of said chair readily permit of the insertion of the rails therethrough. It is to be understood that the plates 5 and 6, being formed of metal naturally embody a certain amount of resiliency, but the said plates will not give sufficient to permit either of the rails passing the central point 7 and the plates 5 and 6 or the central portion of the crest 9. Further it is thought from the above description, that the simplicity and advantages of the device will be perfect-ly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such inventions appertain without further detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is:

In a rail joint, two rail ends, a chair within which the rail ends are adapted to be slid from opposite directions, said chair including a base provided adjacent its longitudinal edges with vertical projections extending longitudinally of the chair and adapted to co-act with the longitudinal edges of the base flanges of the rails, rail engaging flanges integrally formed with the vertical projections, vertical plates extending from the flanges, said plates being beveled in opposite directions from the centers and adapted to frictionally contact with the rails at the ends thereof, one of said plates having a ledge upon which the heads of the rails are adapted to rest, the said ledgebeing formed with a crest, the crest having its face inclined in opposite directions from its center and its center adapted to frictionally engage with the heads of the rails at the meeting ends thereof, integrally formed brace members connecting the crest, ledge, vertical plate, flange and base, means arranged at the opposite sides of the center of the plates for connecting the plates to the rails, and spike openings within the base arranged adjacent its longitudinal edges, and the vertical eX- tensions of the base being recessed to provide walls which partly surround the openings, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. GOODRICH.

Witnesses:

EARLE H. BLAND, F. A. VAN GORDEN.

Copiem of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the (flommtssioner r 2mm, Washington, D. G. 

